2016 Ram ProMaster heater

Glow Plug Indicator Light — If Equipped
Yellow TelltaleLight What It Means
Glow Plug Indicator Light
This vehicle will inhibit engine cranking when the transmission oil temperature is less than
–22° F (–30° C) and the oil temperature sensor reading indicates an engine block heater has
not been used. The Glow Plug light will flash during in cold weather for up to 10 seconds.
An externally powered electric engine block heater is available as optional equipment or
from your authorized dealer.
Turning the ignition key to the ON/RUN position illuminates the Glow Plug Light, the light
will turn off when glow plugs reach the established temperature. You can start the engine
immediately after the light turns off.
A blinking Glow Plug Light (together with a display message) indicates a failure on glow
plugs. Please see your authorized dealer as soon as possible.
42 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
STARTING PROCEDURES .................53
▫ Normal Starting Procedure ................54
▫ Starting Fluids ........................55
▫ Extreme Cold Weather ...................56
 NORMAL OPERATION ...................57
▫ Cold Weather Precautions ................57
▫ Engine Idling .........................59
▫ Stopping The Engine ...................59
▫ Cooling System Tips — Automated Manual
Transmission .........................60 
ENGINE BLOCK/TRANSMISSION HEATER —
IF EQUIPPED ..........................61
 AUTOMATED MANUAL TRANSMISSION .....62
▫ Gear Ranges .........................64
▫ Parking The Vehicle .....................70
▫ Instrument Cluster Messages ..............72
▫ Towing The Vehicle .....................76
 FUEL REQUIREMENTS ...................76
▫ Fuel Specifications .....................78
▫ Biodiesel Fuel Requirements ...............79
5

WARNING!(Continued)
•When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key
fob and lock your vehicle.
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Allowing children to
be in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be
seriously or fatally injured. Children should be
warned not to touch the parking brake, brake pedal
or the gear selector/shift lever. Do not leave the key
fob in or near the vehicle (or in a location accessible
to children), A child could operate power windows,
other controls, or move the vehicle.
Extreme Cold Weather
This vehicle has three heating elements; one engine block
heater (a resistance heater installed in the water jacket of
the engine) and two transmission heaters (one resistance heater installed under the oil reservoir of the hydraulic
actuation system and one on the differential cover of the
transmission). They require a 110–115 Volt AC electrical
outlet with a grounded, three-wire extension cord. Their
use is recommended for environments that routinely fall
below -10°F (-23°C). They should be used when the
vehicle has not been running overnight or longer periods
and should be plugged in two hours prior to start. Their
use is required for cold starts with temperatures under
-17°F (-27°C).
NOTE:
The engine is designed to work at an ambient
temperature ranging from -22°F to + 122°F (-30°C to +
50C°). Rubber, pipes, timing belt cover and electronic
devices are not designed to work out of this range.
In the case of LOW temperature after Starting, the Auto-
mated Manual Transmission may not be able to engage
first gear. In this case a message Shift not allowed
appears. In this situation use the engine block heater.
56 STARTING AND OPERATING

NOTE:The engine and transmission block heater cord is
a factory installed option. If your vehicle is not equipped,
heater cords are available from your authorized MOPAR
dealer.
• A 12 Volt heater built into the fuel filter housing aids in
preventing fuel gelling. It is controlled by a built-in
thermostat.
• A Diesel Pre-Heat system both improves engine start-
ing and reduces the amount of white smoke generated
by a warming engine.
NORMAL OPERATION
Observe the following when the diesel engine is operating.
• All message center lights are off.
• Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) is off.
• Generic Warning Light is off.
• Engine Oil Pressure telltale is not illuminated.
Cold Weather Precautions
Operation in ambient temperature below 32°F (0°C) may
require special considerations. The following charts sug-
gest these options:
Fuel Operating Range
NOTE: Use “Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuels” ONLY.
*No. 1 Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel should only be used
where extended arctic conditions (-10°F/-23°C) exist.
Fuel Operating Range Chart
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 57

Do Not Operate The Engine With Failed Parts
All engine failures give some warning before the parts
fail. Be on the alert for changes in performance, sounds,
and visual evidence that the engine requires service.
Some important clues are:
•Engine misfiring or vibrating severely.
• Sudden loss of power.
• Unusual engine noises.
• Fuel, oil or coolant leaks.
• Sudden change, outside the normal operating range, in
the engine operating temperature.
• Excessive smoke.
• Oil pressure drop.
ENGINE BLOCK/TRANSMISSION HEATER — IF
EQUIPPED
To ensure reliable starting/operating at these tempera-
tures, use of an externally powered electric engine block/
transmission heater (available from your authorized
dealer) is recommended.
The engine block heater warms engine coolant and
permits quicker starts in cold weather. The transmission
heaters warm gearbox oil and hydraulic actuation system
oil to operate in cold weather. Connect the heater cord to
a ground-fault interrupter protected 110–115 Volt AC
electrical outlet with a grounded, three-wire extension
cord.
Its use is recommended for environments that routinely
fall below -10°F (-23°C). It should be used when the
vehicle has not been running overnight or longer periods
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 61

and should be plugged in two hours prior to start. Its use
is required for cold starts with temperatures under -17°F
(-27°C).
In the case of LOW temperature after Starting, the
Automated Manual Transmission may not be able to
engage first gear. In this case a messageShift not
allowed appears. In this situation use the engine block
heater.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the cord before driving.
Damage to the 110–115 Volt electrical cord could
cause electrocution.
NOTE: The block heater will require 110 Volts AC and
6.5 Amps to activate the heater element.
AUTOMATED MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended without fully applying the park-
ing brake. The parking brake should always be
applied when the driver is not in the vehicle.
The automated manual transmission is a conventional
six-speed manual transmission with an electronically-
controlled hydraulic system that controls the clutch and
gear shifting. In forward gears, this transmission offers
two modes of operation:
• MANUAL (M) Mode — where the driver controls the
transmission shifting.
• Automatic Mode (the DRIVE [D] position)
— where
the electronic system controls the gear shifts.
62 STARTING AND OPERATING

•During low-speed driving conditions in first gear,
vehicle momentum changes may feel exaggerated in
response to changes in accelerator pedal position. This
behavior is normal and is similar to other vehicles
equipped with manual transmissions.
• At low speeds you may hear mechanical noises similar
to a manual transmission as the transmission changes
gears. These noises are normal and will not damage
the transmission.
• Very aggressive driving may result in some clutch
odor. A warning message will display in the EVIC if
cool down actions are needed.
• Before and after the engine is started, you may hear a
hydraulic pump for a short period of time. This noise
is normal and will not damage the transmission. •
During extremely cold temperatures, the transmission
will not operate if the oil temperature is -22°F (-30°C)
or below. When transmission actuation oil temperature
is lower than -22°F (-30°C), engine start will not be
allowed by PCM. For this reason the block heater is
recommended below -17°F (-27°C). Normal operation
will resume once the transmission temperature has
risen to a suitable level.
Manual (M) (Manual Mode)
In the MANUAL (M) position the driver is responsible
for choosing the best gear ratio to engage, depending on
driving conditions.
NOTE: Do not press the brake and accelerator pedals at
the same time. Use only one foot to operate the brake and
accelerator.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 67

MESSAGEDESCRIPTION
Press Brake Pedal / Startup Delayed
This messages appears when the key is first turned ON, if the brake
pedal is not depressed and/or the shift lever is not in NEUTRAL (N). The shift lever must be in the NEUTRAL (N) position, and the brake
pedal must be pressed, to allow engine cranking. Place the shift lever in NEUTRAL (N) and apply the brake pedal BEFORE turning the key to
the START/AVV position; otherwise, the engine will not crank and the key must be cycled OFF, then back on, before cranking is allowed.
Gear Unavailable This message appears, along with a warning buzzer:
•When it is not possible to change gear due to a fault in the system.
• When, due a fault in the system, it is only possible to engage 1st
(1), 2nd (2), 3rd (3) or REVERSE (R).
Contact your authorized dealer if the message continues to appear.
Shift Not Allowed This message may appear when starting the engine at low tempera-
ture. In this case the Automated Manual transmission isn’t able to engage first gear, in this situation either use the engine block/
transmission heater or allow the engine to idle in NEUTRAL (N) un- til the transmission has warmed.
74 STARTING AND OPERATING